PhoCusWright '08

Los Angeles is the heart of the second largest metropolitan area in the U.S. While it's most famous for Hollywood, the center of the film and television industry, that is just one aspect of this sprawling and highly diverse city.

The Los Angeles metro area has been a "boomtown" since the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1876 and has long been a gateway of immigration from throughout the Pacific Rim and Latin America. L.A. is a sprawling megalopolis including smaller cities, such as Santa Monica, Burbank, Pasadena and Long Beach, which retain distinct identities. Geographically, there is very little logic as to what is part of the city of L.A. For example, Hollywood is not a separate city, but adjacent West Hollywood is.

You can find some of the biggest tourist attractions in the city on Hollywood Boulevard: the Walk of Fame for its stars; Grauman's Chinese Theater, with its celebrity hand and foot prints; the Hollywood/Highland Plaza for shopping and entertainment; the Wax Museum; and Ripley's Believe It or Not. All of these attractions are accessible from the Hollywood/ Highland Metro Red Line station.

Griffith Park is the second largest park within a city in the entire country and is a great place for hikes or picnics. The hiking trails lead up to Mulholland Drive and provide stunning views of the city. Visitors can also enjoy the beaches, several excellent museums (such as the Getty Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Tolerance) and root for a number of pro sports teams.

This museum's purpose is to shed some lights, camera, and action on everything Hollywood. From biographies of famous actors to the specific techniques that make movies into blockbusters, the Hollywood Museum showcases the whole movie-making process from idea to finished product and everything in between. It's situated on five floors in the recently renovated Max Factor Building; come to find out how Hollywood became the entertainment Mecca it is today.

Located in the heart of world-famous Hollywood, California, this uniquely designed hotel appeals to style-oriented guests desiring exceptional service and comfortable amenities. During your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Hollywood, take time to tour the city and see all that Hollywood has to offer. The hotel is centrally located near several historic tourist attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Bowl, Universal Studios, Paramount Studios, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach. Our hip hotel in Hollywood is the perfect place to stay as you explore the city.The hotel provides an oasis that inspires and re-energizes travelers. From the hip lobby and state-of-the-art fitness center to the convenient high-speed Internet access and a delicious, free hot breakfast bar, this Hollywood hotel provides all the amenities to make your trip to California a great one. Valet/self parking is available for 22/day.Room amenities include Cable TV, in-room movies, coffeemaker, and minifridge.

It isn't exaggerating to say that Rodeo Drive contains some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. Remember Julia Roberts' shopping spree in Pretty Woman? This shopping area is where she went. Rodeo Drive boasts of a great mixture of clothing, restaurants, unique shops and celebrity spotting. Be warned, however, some of the stores are so exclusive, shopping is by appointment only. Credit cards accepted vary by store.

This structure, located atop Mt. Lee in Griffith Park, is perhaps the most enduring symbol of Hollywood. The nine 50-foot (15 meter) letters can be seen from all over the L.A. basin, and occasionally even from passing aircraft. Originally constructed in 1923 and reading "Hollywoodland," it was actually a promotional tool meant to draw attention to housing developments in a nearby section of the Hollywood Hills. By the 1970s, however, the letters were in pretty bad shape, so the city decided to reconstruct it and began promoting it as a tourist attraction.